Wikipedia

Upakit Pachariyangkun

Upakit Pachariyangkun (Thai: อุปกิต ปาจรียางกูร; also spelt Uppakit Pachareeyangkun; born 28 October 1961) is a Thai businessman and senator, known for serving as chairman of United Power of Asia and Allure Group.[1] He was appointed by Thailand's military junta, the National Council for Peace and Order, as a Senator of Thailand on May 24, 2019.[2][3] In 2019, Upakit declared assets worth US$52 million, making him Thailand's wealthiest senator.[4]

Upakit Pachariyangkun
อุปกิต ปาจรียางกูร
Senator of Thailand
Assumed office
14 May 2019
Personal details
Born28 October 1961 (1961-10-28) (age 62)
SpousePareena Kraikupt (div.)
RelationsDean Young Gultala
ChildrenFour, including Adisara Gultula
ParentUpadit Pachariyangkun
Alma materSkidmore College
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
OccupationBusinessman

Early life and education edit

Upakit was born on October 28, 1961, to Upadit Pachariyangkun [th], a Thai diplomat and former foreign affairs minister, and his wife Aphira.[5] Upakit attended Skidmore College in New York, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in political science.[3] He subsequently obtained a Master's degree in Industrial Development from Vrije Universiteit Brussel.[3] He then joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[3]

Business interests edit

Business interests in Myanmar edit

Upakit founded Allure Group in Thailand. Upakit expanded his business interests to neighbouring Myanmar through a partnership with Tun Min Latt, a Burmese businessman.[5] In 1999, the two men co-founded Myanmar Allure Group to operate Allure Resort, an illegal hotel and casino, in the Burmese-Thai border town of Tachileik.[5][2] Six percent of the casino's income was distributed to the Myanmar Armed Forces.[6] In August 2019, he divested from Myanmar Allure, reportedly selling casino resort for $8.15 million to a business partner, Chakris Kajkumjorndej, in order to join the Senate of Thailand.[7] Dean Young Gultula, Upakit's son-in-law, was named his successor.[5]

Criminal scrutiny edit

On September 17, 2022, following a police raid, Thai authorities arrested Tun Min Latt, Dean Young Gultula, and two Thai nationals on money laundering and drug trafficking charges.[8][9] Authorities seized $40.7 million worth in assets, including luxury cars, watches and bags, along with $239,091 in cash.[10][8] On 3 October, Thai news outlets reported that the Criminal Court of Thailand had issued an arrest warrant for Upakit in connection with the raid.[2] Within hours, Upakit's arrest warrant was abruptly overturned, and court summons were instead issued, after interference by leadership at the Criminal Court.[11][12][2] Following the arrests, Metropolitan Police Bureau officers who had sought Upakit's arrest warrant were mysteriously transferred to remote provincial posts.[13][11] Kritsanat Thanasupanat, the lead investigator, was involuntarily transferred to a remote post in Chaiyaphum province.[13][11]

On February 15, 2023, during a parliamentary debate, Rangsiman Rome implicated Upakit in a money laundering and drug trafficking case involving Upakit's son-in-law and Tun Min Latt.[14][15][12] At a press conference thereafter, Rangsit accused Upakit of falsely declaring his assets before assuming his senate seat in 2019.[12] Upakit owns the plot of land in Bangkok which houses the headquarters of the United Thai Nation Party.[16][17]

On March 11, the Thai Judicial Commission's testimony from Manapong Wongpiwat, a police investigator, regarding Upakit's revoked arrest warrant was leaked to the media.[18] The leaked testimony prompted concerns regarding internal interference by Criminal Court leadership in stopping Upakit's arrest warrant, and the state of judicial independence in Thailand.[18] On March 13, Damrongsak Kittiprapas, head of the Royal Thai Police, ordered a probe into irregularities surrounding the sudden revocation of Upakit's arrest warrant back in October.[11] The following day, Chotiwat Luengprasert, the president of the Supreme Court of Thailand, launched a fact-finding committee to conduct a formal investigation.[19] On May 18, he was indicted on money laundering and transnational related charges by public prosecutors.[20]

Personal life edit

Upakit's father, Upadit Pachariyangkun [th], is a former diplomat and Thai foreign affairs minister.[3] He has one sister, Thawadee.[3] Upakit was previously married to Pareena Kraikupt, a politician.[21]

References edit

  1. ^ Praiwan, Yuthana (2016-04-04). "UPA signs B10bn Dawei power plant deal". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 2023-12-28. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  2. ^ a b c d Ferrie, Jarred; Sutthichaya, Yiamyut (2022-10-13). "Arrest Warrant for Thai Senator Issued and Quickly Retracted". Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. Archived from the original on 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "อุปกิต ปาจรียางกูร ส.ว. ไทย ผู้กว้างขวางในเมียนมา". BBC News ไทย (in Thai). Archived from the original on 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  4. ^ "ชีวิต 'ส.ว.อุปกิต ปาจรียางกูร' อดีตคน กต.-พ่อของลูกปารีณา-ถูกโยงพ่อค้าอาวุธ". มติชนออนไลน์ (in Thai). 2022-09-22. Archived from the original on 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  5. ^ a b c d "Report Reveals Thai Senator's Deep Ties to Detained Myanmar Arms Dealer, Profiting Military". The Irrawaddy. 2022-09-27. Archived from the original on 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  6. ^ "Thai senator's deep involvement with Myanmar junta crony exposed". Myanmar NOW. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  7. ^ "Star Sapphire companies funnelling arms and money to military". Justice For Myanmar. 2022-04-26. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  8. ^ a b Wongcha-um, Panu; Mcpherson, Poppy (2022-09-21). "Thailand arrests Myanmar military-linked businessman suspected of drug trafficking". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  9. ^ "Myanmar arms broker arrested in Thailand". Myanmar NOW. 2021-09-21. Archived from the original on 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  10. ^ Abuza, Zachary (2023-03-30). "Thai senator's ties to arrested Myanmar tycoon stir controversy ahead of election". Benar News. Archived from the original on 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  11. ^ a b c d "Probe into revoked drug arrest warrant for senator". Bangkok Post. 2023-03-13. Archived from the original on 2023-12-28. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  12. ^ a b c Boonlert, Thana (2023-02-21). "MP casts doubts over Upakit's assets". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 2023-12-28. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  13. ^ a b "Transfer suspicions". Bangkok Post. 2023-02-02. Archived from the original on 2023-12-28. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  14. ^ "A Thai senator linked to a Myanmar tycoon is indicted for drug trafficking and money laundering". ABC news. December 15, 2023. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Thai senator's deep involvement with Myanmar junta crony exposed". Myanmar NOW. 2023-02-20. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  16. ^ "Senator sues MP for defamation over censure debate speech". Prachatai English. 2023-02-19. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  17. ^ "Prayut Is Planning an Election After the General Debate". Khaosod English. 2023-02-17. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  18. ^ a b "Leaked letter alleges Court top brass had Thai senator's arrest warrant revoked". Prachatai English. Archived from the original on 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  19. ^ "Panel to investigate U-turn on arrest warrant". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 2023-12-28. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  20. ^ "Senator Upakit indicted for alleged money laundering and links to transnational crime". The Nation Thailand. 2023-05-18. Archived from the original on 2023-05-21. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  21. ^ "The life and fights of government's fiercest "guardian"". Thai PBS World. Archived from the original on 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
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